Rabies is a viral disease, transmitted through the bite of a rabid animal. This week on Farmer’s Inside Track, Afrivet director Vuyokazi Makapela is back for the One Health Campaign with a focus on rabies treatment and how you can prevent it.
Rabies is endemic to South Africa, so just because your animals are not living in rural areas does not mean that they are safe.
Vaccination is the best preventative measure against rabies, says Makapela. “I urge all companion animal owners to make sure that their animals are vaccinated.”
He adds that cases of rabies regularly occurs in wildlife in the Western Cape, but it can easily spill over to domestic animals like dogs and cats in urban areas. “So, it’s not a virus or even infection that happens in the rural areas, but also in urban areas.”
Preventive measures for rabies
Makapela urges people to not wait till checks verify that the animal had rabies. There are instances where it took days or maybe weeks for rabies test outcomes to be released, however, at that point, it might be too late for treatment to be effective.
“Watch the saliva contact or bite wound area, no matter how small. Even if you only see a drop of blood from the wound, thoroughly wash them with soap and water for at least 15 minutes, and seek medical assistance immediately. The medical practitioner will assess your risk and then continue with post-exposure vaccinations,” he advises.
Makapela also unpacks the following on the podcast:
- Techniques to use whilst you have been with animals who might have rabies;
- Treatments options when a person has been in contact with rabies; and
- Protocol to comply with when transporting animals.
Want to know more? Listen to the full episode of Farmer’s Inside Track.
Option 1: Click here to listen on Spotify (all mobile and other devices).
Option 2: Click here listen on any Apple device.
Option 3: Click here to listen on Google Podcast.
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